New Albert Lea City Manager Jim Norman knows the value of building relationships. 

Whether its with department heads, community leaders or service groups, they’re all valuable, he said. 

That’s been one of his primary tasks since he started part time as city manager in Albert Lea on April 12, when he began splitting his time between Albert Lea and Afton, where he was formerly the interim city administrator. 

He began full time in Albert Lea May 3. 

“I’m trying to get my arms around what the issues are,” Norman said. 

He’s gone on tours when necessary and met on average with one city councilor a week, depending on the councilors’ schedules. He’s also been a guest in the community, too, at different service clubs and organizations.

Next week, he said he plans to attend the Freeborn County Board of Commissioners meeting to introduce himself to the commissioners. 

Because every city operates differently, he’s trying to understand how Albert Lea’s day-to-day operations are conducted, he said. 

“This is a period I have to do my best to understand not only the policy board’s intention but do my best to understand the community,” said Norman, who grew up in Blue Earth County.

From what he’s encountered so far, he noted he thinks one of the first major issues he will have to deal with is the looming budget crisis. 

“Right now that’s going to have to be front and center,” he said. 

With the court ruling last week declaring Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s unallotment decisions last year as unconstitutional, there are a lot of questions up in the air about the state budget. And whatever happens with the state budget will most likely have a direct impact on the city’s budget, he said. 

Albert Lea City Manager Jim Norman has completed 76 marathons. It is his goal to finish a marathon in all 50 states. So far, he’s halfway there.

He said he has completed marathons in four of the seven continents, including in Australia, China and Italy.

This summer, he plans to run marathons in Portland, Ore., and St. George, Utah.

Norman noted while he doesn’t have a playbook right now on how to handle any budget problems, he is meeting with Finance Director Rhonda Moen this week to develop more of a gameplan. 

Norman said he encourages community members who have suggestions for him to voice them. 

“If folks have a suggestion, I’m all ears,” he added. “I’m not the elected official, my name’s not on the ballot, but I think it’s an important part of my learning process,” he added.

He said when he was one of five candidates to be interviewed for the position, one issue that came up several times was a restructuring of departments within the city. He’s not sure whether this was brought up because of budget concerns, but he has not yet received any direction to begin this process. 

His personal life

Norman said he and his wife, Oksana, will probably be making a decision this week on where they will live. Until then, she has been living at their old home, while he’s been staying in motels. 

Norman, an avid runner, said he’s had his first run around Fountain Lake after recently recovering from a knee injury. 

He’s training for two marathons.

Besides running, Norman said has an interest in singing and used to sing in a barbershop quartet. 

He sings second tenor and is considering whether to try out for a play this summer. 

His previous work history includes a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration from Mankato State University in Mankato in 1977 and a master’s degree in urban and regional studies from Mankato State University in 1988.

Prior to his position as the interim city manager in Afton, he worked as part owner of Norman and Associates in Ramsey; city administrator in Ramsey, population 24,000; city manager in Montevideo, population 5,500; city administrator in Renville, population 1,500; county coordinator in Dodge County; and assistant city manager in White Bear Lake.

He has been a city manager for over 16 years and worked in the public sector for 22 years.

He replaces former Albert Lea City Manager Victoria Simonsen, who announced in December she had accepted a job as town manager in Lyons, Colo.

He is one of 71 people who applied for the job.